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Physical Security-Non Computer

I recieved this by E-mail, cleaned it up a little, and would like to pass it on.
Actual Free advice from an attorney.

A corporate attorney sent the following out to the
employees in his company:

The next time you order checks have only your initials
(instead of your first name) and last name put on to them.
If someone takes your check book they will not know if you
sign your checks with just your initials or your first name
but your bank will know how you sign your checks.

When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card
accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the "For" line.
Instead,
just put the last four numbers. The credit card company
knows the rest of the number and anyone who might be handling
your check as it passes through all the check processing channels
won't have access to it.

Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone.
If you have a P.O. Box use that instead of your home address.
Never have your SS# printed on your checks (DUH!),
You can add it if it is necessary.

But if you have it printed, anyone can get it.

Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine,
do both sides of each license, credit card, etc.
You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the
account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel.

Keep the photocopy in a safe place.
I also carry a photocopy of my passport when I travel either
here or abroad.

We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed
on us in stealing a name, address, Social Security number,
credit cards, etc.

Unfortunately I, an attorney, have firsthand knowledge because
my wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thieve(s)
ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for
a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a
Gateway Computer, received a PIN number from
DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) to change my driving record information
online, and more.

But here's some critical information to limit the damage
in case this happens to you or someone you know:

We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately.
But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers
handy so you know whom to call.
Keep those numbers where you can find them easily.

File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where it
was stolen, this proves to credit providers you were diligent,
and is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).

But here's what is perhaps most important:
(I never even thought to do this).

Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately
to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number.
I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that
called to tell me an application for credit was made over the
Internet in my name.

The alert means any company that checks your credit knows
your information was stolen and they have to contact you by
phone to authorize new credit.

By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after
the theft, all the damage had been done.

There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the
thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing
the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done,
and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in).
It seems to have stopped them in their tracks.

The national credit reporting organizations numbers are:

Equifax: 1-800-525-6285

Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742

Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289

Social Security Administration
(Fraud Line): 1-800-269-0271

\"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, Champagne in one hand - strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming WOO HOO - What a Ride!\"
Author Unknown

Good Resource, There is a lot of other things you can do to protect yourself from identity theft, but the biggest of all would be to check all three major credit reports EVERY 4 months and put in a dispute for any incorrect information, such as addresses, phone numbers, if they are not current or correct. Take them OFF.

Actually, a couple of things...I worked at a bank, and the initial thing is really kind of useless. You can sign your check however you want to sign it, from one day to the next. And actually, your bank never even sees your checks anymore, it's all computerized, the only time the bank sees it is if you call them with some kind of a problem, then they can order copies of your checks and look at them.

The PO Box thing...I live in the country, and actually do have a PO Box, because we don't get mail delivery where I live. Most places will not accept that as an address. Some places won't even accept it if you give a physical address written on to the check, they'll only take it if you have your address printed on the check.

And ... believe it or not I saw this more times than I could count ... Don't put your f'ing PIN number on the back of your ATM card because you can't remember it!!!! I never thought people could be that stupid, but they are. If you do that, and someone gets hold of your card, not only do they empty your bank account, you are still responsible for the money that came out. Most banks, if you lose your ATM card and someone gets lucky enough to guess the PIN number, will only hold you responsible for like $50. However if you write your PIN number on the back of the card, you just committed the "I'm an idiot" crime, and are responsible for anything that comes out of the account.

Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately
to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number.
I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that
called to tell me an application for credit was made over the
Internet in my name

This is the best piece of information in the email. You can do this whether you've been a victim of fraud or not, actually. It is your credit report, and if you want to have it added that anytime someone checks your credit, you want them to contact you personally, you can do so. Just don't leave a contact number that you can't be reached at. I.E. if you are buying a car, you're not likely to be at home when they pull your credit report, now are you? Lol....a cell phone number added to the credit report though will let them contact you personally, and keep people from being able to commit identity fraud. Hopefully.

Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.